y plunged more deeply yet into the Wilderness.
They moved in two columns, McLaws leading by the turnpike, Anderson in
advance on the Plank Road, Jackson himself with the main body following
by the latter road.

Oh, bright-eyed, oh, bronzed and gaunt and ragged, oh, full of quips and
cranks, of jest and song and courage, oh, endowed with all quaint
humour, invested with all pathos, ennobled by vast struggle with vast
adversity, oh, sufferers of all things, hero-fibred, grim fighters, oh,
Army of Northern Virginia--all men and all women who have battled salute
you, going into the Wilderness this May day with the red birds singing!

On swing the two columns, long, easy, bayonets gleaming, accoutrements
jingling, colours deep glowing in the sunshine. To either hand swept the
Wilderness, great as a desert, green and jewelled. In the desert to-day
were other bands, great and hostile blue-clad bands. Grey and
blue,--there came presently a clash that shook the forest and sent
Quiet, a fugitive, to those deeper, distant haunts. Three bands of blue,
three grey attacks--the air rocked and swung, the pure sunlight changed
to murk, the birds and the beasts scampered far, the Wilderness filled
with shouting. The blue gave back--gave back somewhat too easily. The
grey followed--would have followed at height of speed, keen and
shouting, but there rode to the front a leader on a sorrel nag. "General
Anderson, halt your men. Throw out skirmishers and flanking parties and
advance with caution."

McLaws on the turnpike had like orders. Through the Wilderness, through the
gold afternoon, all went quietly. Sound of marching feet, beat of hoof,
creak of leather, rumble of wheel, low-pitched orders were there, but no
singing, laughing, talking. Skirmishers and flanking parties were alert,
but the men in the main column moved dreamily, the spell of the place upon
them. With flowering thorn and dogwood and the purple smear of the Judas
tree, with the faint gilt of the sunshine, and with wandering gracious
odours, with its tangled endlessness and feel as of old time, its taste of
sadness, its hint of patience, it was such a seven-leagues of woodland as
might have environed the hundred-years-asleep court, palace, and princess.
The great dome of the sky sprung cloudless; there was no wind; all things
seemed halted, as if they had been thus forever. The men almost nodded as
they marched.

Back, steadily, though slowly, gave the blue skirmishers b